Ao Cheng Family.
In the open space before the main hall, banquet tables filled the area.
Torches crackled and spat sparks, while the rich aroma of meat and wine drifted through the air.
A group of pretty, shapely dancers moved lightly to the music.
At the front of the dancers, a group of middle-aged men laughed and chatted as they exchanged cups.
The people conversing here were none other than the higher-ups of the Aocheng Family and the Liu family!
At the center of the crowd, a middle-aged man in black was surrounded by everyone.
The words spoken by several old men around him seemed to strike a deep chord with the middle-aged man, making him laugh again and again.
Ao Cheng Nan carried his wine cup over to Liu Cheng and respectfully said:
"Brother Liu, let me toast you."
"With Brother Liu's name backing us, even if we keep devouring the Xiao Family, they wouldn't dare strike back."
"My Ao Cheng Family owes its position today to Brother Liu!"
After drinking a cup with Liu Cheng, the corners of Ao Cheng Nan's mouth nearly stretched to the backs of his ears.
In the decades he had spent in Dongli City, he had never once felt as carefree and exhilarated as he did today.
Liu Qing also came over to the two of them with a wine cup and said:
"By now, our Ao and Liu families have already swallowed nearly half of the Xiao Family's markets."
"Even the businesses connected to the Xiao Family have been driven back by us."
"With the Xiao Family markets being constantly harassed, their other businesses won't be able to continue for long either."
"Yet not one of those Xiao Family turtles dares to fight back."
"At this rate, it probably won't take more than a few months for the Aocheng Family to replace the Xiao Family as Dongli City's new master."
"And my Liu family will become the second-largest clan in Dongli!"
"I'll toast Brother Liu."
With that, Liu Qing also downed his cup.
Liu Cheng merely snorted and said indifferently:
"If you ask me, you're all still too timid."
"It's only a mere City Lord."
"Expand as much as you like. With me, Liu Cheng, here, they absolutely won't dare act recklessly!"
When the higher-ups of the Aocheng and Liu families nearby heard this, their smiles grew even broader, and they all began praising him loudly:
"Lord Liu is right."
"With those four early Houtian realm martial artists of the Xiao Family, how would they dare act recklessly in front of Lord Liu?"
"As long as Lord Liu sits here in our Aocheng Family, even if the Xiao Family had ten times the nerve, they still wouldn't dare act recklessly. They can only obediently endure it."
Listening to everyone's flattery, Liu Cheng also began to feel light-headed with pride.
Suddenly, a row of fire racks beside them toppled to the ground with a sharp crack.
Two figures could be seen lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
They were actually guards of the Aocheng Family!
The smile on Ao Cheng Nan's face sank, and he flew into a rage:
"Which blind fool dares to attack my Aocheng Family?!"
Everyone stopped in shock.
They looked toward the burning torches lying on the ground. The flames had ignited the carpet, and fire immediately surged upward, illuminating the entire courtyard.
A figure walked in from beyond the torches, and the person's face gradually became clear in the flickering firelight.
Under everyone's gaze, a youngster slowly walked up before them, his tone frivolous:
"Yo, everyone."
"Why aren't you sleeping so late at night? Are you all gathered here to dream your spring-and-autumn dreams together?"
Ao Cheng Nan looked at the youngster before him, his expression uncertain:
"Xiao Huohuo, you useless brat, what are you doing here?"
His eyes swept back and forth over Xiao Huohuo.
The two guards who had been knocked down were Second-rate martial artists.
Everyone in Dongli City knew that Xiao Huohuo had remained a Third-rate martial artist for many years.
It was impossible for Xiao Huohuo to have knocked down these two guards.
At that thought, the corners of his mouth lifted into a curve:
"The Xiao Family finally couldn't hold back."
Ao Cheng Nan shouted coldly toward the area behind Xiao Huohuo:
"Xiao Zhan, since you're here, stop hiding."
After quite some time, no one around answered. Ao Cheng Nan couldn't help frowning.
Just as he was about to speak again, he saw Xiao Huohuo shrug:
"Stop looking. I'm the only one who came tonight."
At this, Ao Cheng Nan froze for a moment before sneering:
"You?"
"Young City Lord, is there anyone in all of Dongli City who doesn't know of your unparalleled talent, Xiao Huohuo?"
"You've practiced martial arts for ten years and are still a useless Third-rate martial artist."
"Do you really think you could sneak into my Aocheng Family?"
"Did you read another storybook and fail to wake up from your dreams yet?!"
As Ao Cheng Nan's voice fell, the people of the Aocheng Family behind him also burst into laughter.
They all knew that Xiao Huohuo loved reading storybooks and dreamed of finding some Hermit Expert wherever he went.
Ridiculed by everyone, Xiao Huohuo did not get angry. Instead, he waved his hand and said:
"I can't exactly be called some unparalleled genius, can I?"
"At most, I'd count as an ordinary genius."
"An ordinary genius who's just a little stronger than all of you."
Another roar of laughter erupted from the rear of the banquet.
Seeing the youngster's serious expression, the higher-ups of both families all clutched their bellies and laughed.
Even Ao Cheng Nan found it amusing and mocked him:
"Enough, Xiao Zhan. Hurry up and come out."
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee that something won't happen to your stupid son."
Seeing that everyone wore expressions of disbelief, Xiao Huohuo said no more. He merely took one step forward, and a terrifying aura immediately burst from his body.
The dark-red waves of aura swept outward like a Prehistoric beast, shaking the firelight away and plunging the surroundings into silence.
Everyone was shaken speechless by that terrifying aura. They could only stare blankly.
The youngster's deep voice echoed throughout the banquet:
"Against a bunch of minions like you, my father doesn't need to make a move."
Xiao Huohuo's gaze passed over everyone and landed on the young man among them. He questioned him:
"You're that so-called Houtian mid-stage swordsman?"
"Are you the reason the Aocheng Family has such reckless confidence?"
"I'll give you a chance."
"What you've eaten from my Xiao Family, spit it all back out. Then go to my Xiao Family residence and apologize."
"This young master can still consider sparing you."
"Otherwise..."
In the darkness, Xiao Huohuo's eyes glimmered with an intimidating light.
Every higher-up on the scene whom he looked at felt as if they were being watched by a Prehistoric beast, their scalps prickling with numbness.
The people of the Aocheng and Liu families swallowed dryly one after another, staring at the youngster before them in disbelief.
Hadn't this Xiao Huohuo always been a useless brat?
How had he suddenly become so terrifying?
Ao Cheng Nan stared grimly at Xiao Huohuo, his face uglier than a pig's liver.
This brat had actually been hiding his true ability all along... He was actually a Houtian realm martial artist!?
A Houtian realm martial artist under twenty—there had never been even one in all of Dongli City, had there?
Such talent was simply far too terrifying.
Ao Cheng Nan drew a deep breath and sneered:
"A sixteen-year-old Houtian realm martial artist. The Xiao Family really knows how to hide its talents."
Behind him, Liu Qing, who had remained silent all this time, stepped forward and said coldly:
"This child cannot be allowed to live!"
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